Bylaws

ARTICLE 1 - NAME, PURPOSE
Section 1 Name:
The name of the organization shall be The Fellowship of Anglo-Saxon
Heathenry (the “Fellowship”). It shall be a nonprofit organization
incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado

Section 2 Purpose:
The Fellowship is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and
educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Specifically, the purposes for which this corporation is formed is to
foster and teach the tenants of the Fyrnsidu religion, to encourage
interaction between practitioners of Fyrnsidu, and to provide and
disseminate information regarding the faith to the general public, as
well as other religious and secular bodies.

* By carrying out votive rites, ceremonies, and religious
services.

* By training and ordaining clergy, and establishing religious
fellowships.

* Through study of heathen lore and doctrine.

* Through application of heathen principles, ethics and virtues
(“þeaw”) in daily life.

* Through education, outreach programs and counseling.

* By creating and fostering a sense of community among adherents
of Fyrnsidu.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Eligibility for membership:
Membership in the Fellowship is open to any person who practices the
religion of Fyrnsidu regardless of race, color, sex, affectional or
sexual orientation, age, or national origin.

Section 2 Membership Standings
The Fellowship shall have two classes of members: Voting Members (Gesíð)
and Provisional Members (Læringmann or Híredmann).

Læringmann – This is a provisional level of membership open to all
persons, provided that they agree to abide by the thews and
sidungas(religious tenets) of the organization. The Witan reserves the
right to terminate a Læringmann’s membership for any lawful reason with
or without notice.

Híredmann – híredmenn are provisional members of a geférlic congregation
(híred). Membership dues will be waived for the first year of their
membership with the understanding that they will be fostered by their
local Hired.

Gesíð – Full membership is open to any person over the age of eighteen
(18) years who has held a provisional membership for no less than one
year, provided they meet the following criteria:

* The applicant practices the religion of Fyrnsidu

* The applicant has sworn to uphold the Fellowship’s bylaws and
demonstrated dedication to the principles, laws, and thews of
the Fellowship.

* The applicant has represented to a cleric (“sácerd”) of the
Fellowship the earnestness of his or her faith and received the
endorsement of that
cleric.

All members should have a general understanding of the community,
history and the current situation of the Fellowship. The Executive
Committee may exercise the option to waive the one-year requirement for
voting membership if requested, and if they deem appropriate.

Section 3 Annual dues:
The amount required for annual dues shall be $20.00 each year, unless
changed by a majority vote of the members at an annual or special
meeting of the full membership (folcgemót). Continued membership is
contingent upon being up-to-date on membership dues.

Section 4 Rights of members:
Full members shall be eligible to vote in Executive Committee
(“Duguþmiht”) elections. The Board (Witan) shall have the authority to
establish and define non-voting categories of membership.

Section 5 Resignation and termination:
Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Steward
(“Stihtere”). Resignation shall not relieve a member of unpaid dues, or
other charges previously accrued. A member can have their membership
terminated by a majority vote of the membership or an act of the Board
of Trustees (Witan).

ARTICLE III — BOARD OF TRUSTEES (Witan)
Section 1 Board role, size, and compensation:
The Witan is responsible for overall policy and spiritual direction of
the Fellowship, and delegates responsibility of day-to-day operations to
the staff and committees. Every ordained cleric of drýmann rank shall be
an ex officio member of the Witan. Every ordained cleric of any rank or
stature shall be entitled to attend Witan meetings, though their
presence shall be strictly advisory. All Híredgeréfas shall also be
entitled to a seat upon the Witan. The Witan shall receive no
compensation other than reasonable expenses. The Uþwita may, with the
approval of the Witan create new Duguþ level positions as (s)he sees
fit.

Section 2 Terms:
All Witan members who are ordained members of the clergy shall hold
seats on the Witan for life. Híredgeréfas shall hold seats on the Witan
for the duration of their tenure in that position. Members of the
Executive committee serve two-year terms, but are eligible for
re-election without limitation. The Uþwita serves for life, or until
retirement.

Section 3 Meetings and notice:
The Witan shall meet at least quarterly, at an agreed upon time and
place. An official board meeting requires that each board member have
written notice at least two weeks in advance.

Section 4 Witan elections:
New, secular officers and current officers of the Duguþ shall be elected
or re-elected by the voting membership of the organization. Duguþ
(officers of the Duguþmiht) will be elected by a simple majority of
members present at the bi-annual election, with the exception of the
guild-masters who shall be elected internally by the membership of their
respective guilds, and officers with a strictly religious function,
which shall be installed in accordance with the policies of the clergy.

Section 5 Election procedures:
Any voting member can nominate a candidate to the slate of nominees for
Stihtere and Hordere. Certain other positions will have qualifications
which a candidate must meet in order to be considered eligible.
Elections for Gildhearra positions are held within the respective
guilds. Elections for the positions of Stihtere, Hordere, and Uþwita are
open to the general voting membership. A candidate for Uþwita must
receive votes from at least 33% of the entire eligible electorate in
order to ascend to the position, even if there is only one candidate. In
the event that no candidate receives the requisite number of votes, the
Micelgeþeat must be permitted to repeat the vetting and nomination
process, and special elections may then be held until a satisfactory
outcome results.

Section 6 Quorum:
A quorum must be attended by at least forty percent of Witan members for
business transactions to take place and motions to pass.

Section 7 Officers and Duties:
In addition to the grand master (“gildhearra”) of every sanctioned guild
(“gildscipe”), there shall be four permanent officers of the executive
committee (“Duguþmiht”), consisting of an Executive Director (“Uþwita”),
Steward (“Stihtere”), Dean of Instruction ("Lárwita") and Treasurer
(“Hordere”). Their duties are as follows:

The Uþwita shall convene regularly scheduled Witan meetings, shall
preside or arrange for other members of the Duguþmiht to preside at each
meeting in the following order: Lárwita, Stihtere, Hordere. In addition,
the Uþwita shall serve as the chair of the Micelgeþeat, as described
below under ARTICLE V. A candidate for Uþwita must hold the árung of
drýmann.

The Stihtere shall chair committees on special subjects as designated by
the Witan, and serve the Duguþmiht as an advocate for the interests of
the diverse constituents that make up the laity. The Stihtere shall be
responsible for keeping records of Witan actions, including overseeing
the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting
announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each
Witan member, and assuring that corporate records
are maintained. This officer may be a layperson. The Stihtere must be a
voting member in good standing.

The Lárwita is a purely religious official, and serves as the director
of the basic clergy training program, in addition to performing other
scholastic work at the direction of the Uþwita. Should the uþwita be
temporarily indisposed, this person assumes his/her duties in the
interim.

The Hordere shall make a report at each board meeting. The treasurer
shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the
budget, help develop fundraising plans, and make financial information
available to board members and the public.

The gildhearra (guild-master) shall represent the interests of his or
her guild as they apply to the daily operation of the Fellowship.

Section 8 Vacancies:
When a vacancy on the board exists mid-term, the secretary must receive
nominations for new members from present board members two weeks in
advance of a board meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to board
members with the regular board meeting announcement, to be voted upon at
the next board meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end
of the particular board member's term.

Section 9 Resignation, termination, and absences:
Resignation from the board must be in writing and received by the
Secretary. A board member shall be terminated from the board due to
excess absences, more than two unexcused absences from board meetings in
a year. A board member may be removed for other reasons by a
three-fourths vote of the remaining directors.

Section 10 Special meetings:
Special meetings of the board shall be called upon the request of the
chair, or one-third of the board. Notices of special meetings shall be
sent out by the secretary to each board member at least two weeks in
advance.

ARTICLE IV — DIRECTOR AND STAFF
Section 1 Executive Director:
The executive director shall be the Uþwita. The Uþwita may appoint a
volunteer staff at his or her discretion to assist with the daily
operation of the Fellowship.

ARTICLE V — COMMITTEES
Section 1 Committee formation:
The board may create committees as needed, such as fundraising, housing,
public relations, data collection, etc. The board chair (Uþwita)
appoints all committee chairs.

Section 2 The Duguþmiht (Executive Committee):
The officers and guild-masters serve as the members of the Executive
Committee. Except for the power to amend the Articles of Incorporation
and bylaws, the Duguþmiht shall have all the powers and authority of the
Witan in the intervals between meetings of the Witan, and is subject to
the direction and control of the full Witan.

Section 3 The Micelgeþeat (Great Thought):
The Micelgeþeat is comprised of the drýmenn only. This committee is
responsible for making determinations about religious doctrine and
custom. The Micelgeþeat is the governing body of the clergy, and is
responsible for nominating one or more candidates for Uþwita when the
office is vacated, to stand for general election. The Uþwita serves as
chair for this committee, and the Lárwita as vice-chair.

Section 4 Finance Committee:
The Hordere is the chair of the Finance Committee, which includes three
other Witan members. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing
and reviewing fiscal procedures, fundraising plans, and the annual
budget with staff and other Witan. The board must approve the budget and
all expenditures must be within budget. Any major change in the budget
must be approved by the Witan or the Duguþmiht. The fiscal year shall be
the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the
board showing income, expenditures, and pending income. The financial
records of the organization are public information and shall be made
available to the membership, Witan members, and the public.

ARTICLE VI — CONGREGATIONS
Section 1 Formation:
In keeping with the goals of the organization, the Fellowship shall from
time to time establish, annex, or foster the growth of, local religious
fellowships and congregations.

Section 2 Status and Recognition:
Such congregations may be designated by one of two terms, which shall
indicate the level of affiliation between the Fellowship, and the
congregation:

* rihtwuldriende

* geférlic

A group designated rihtwuldriende (orthodox) is one whose religious
tenets and teachings are congruent with those of the Fellowship, but
which does not satisfy the minimum requirements to be considered
“denominational” or geférlic. This type of congregation is not
considered a híred (see below) until and unless the published
requirements can be met.

A geférlic congregation (generically called a híred, though its name
need not include this term) is a congregation which includes voting
Fellowship members and complies with current Fellowship law regarding
hírdas (communities). A recognized híred is considered denominational,
and part of the greater Fellowship. The Witan shall determine, execute,
and amend the pertinent law(s) as they deem fitting, as well as
reserving the final decision on the admittance of a congregation,
society or community into the Fellowship denomination.

ARTICLE VII — GUILDS (GILDSCIPAS)
Section 1 Definition:
A gildscipe is an association formed within the framework of Fellowship
society for the purpose of fostering an art, craft, discipline, or
tradition associated with Anglo-Saxon religious and cultural traditions.

Section 2 Ratification:
A prospective guild must submit a charter or governing document to the
Witan at an annual meeting in order to be considered for ratification.
This document must outline the nature of the guild, its ranking system
and training process (where applicable), and process for electing a
grand-master.

ARTICLE VIII — AMENDMENTS
Section 1 Amendments:
These bylaws may be amended when necessary by two-thirds majority of the
full Witan. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Hordere to be
sent out with regular board announcements.